He's done it again!

The latest buzz in cyberspace right now is that my good friend, Batjay has published another book! This time, there's no denying that it is him. It's Batjay to invade everybody's bookshelf. Launching will be on April 14 at Fullybooked at Serendra, 3:00 pm. What's even greater news is that he will be coming over and will actually be there, straight from the airport. I will certainly be there. See you!

What it was like to be 18!

I have been tagged again this time by no less than Ipanema a blogger, whom I got to know thru Doc Emer. This tag is another one of those music thingies going around blogs. I am supposed to remember the songs when I was 18 years old and turn nostalgic over them. The rules can be seen here. I am a bit hesitant doing this tag at first as the young people reading this blog may not be able to relate. But then, I do have readers who may be able to and even kind of reminisce after seeing the songs that I included here. So, what the heck? Here goes.

I have grown to a family of music lovers. I have been exposed to different types of music early in my life that the music library in my head spans several generations. Should I say circa 1920's to the present. From my father, I learned to listen to classical music, be fascinated with the guitar as an instrument; from my mother, I inherited my love for the kundiman which she sang in radio programs with her sister when they were younger; my brothers and sisters who influenced me to listen to rock and roll; and now, my children who keeps me abreast with the latest tunes.

But of course, the most memorable music for me would be the music of my teens, the 70's. As I read the rules in Ipanema's blog, I got confused what songs were the hits during that time when I turned 18. I googled it and some of the songs that I remember that made it to the charts were the following as listed here

That's the Way of the World

Shining Star - Earth, Wind and Fire

The Way We Were/Try to Remember - Gladys Knight and the Pips

Black Water - Doobie Brothers

They Just Can't Stop It (Games People Play) - The Spinners

Some Kind of Wonderful - Grandfunk Railroad

At Seventeen - Janis Ian

Lonely People - America

Poetry Man - Phoebe Snow

You are so Beautiful - Joe Cocker

Laughter in the Rain - Neil Sedaka

ONe of these Nights - The Eagles

Lady Marmalade - Labelle

How Sweet It Is - James Taylor

Midnight Blue - Melissa Manchester

Love will Keep Us Together - Captain and Tennille

Okay, I admit, these are not the songs that I want to talk about, though. The songs I'd rather talk about are the ones that inspired me the most. The problem is that I am not sure if they aired when I turned 18. The sure thing about it is that they were heard in the airwaves during the 70's. Anyway, first off in the list is Les Crane's rendition of Max Ehrmann's "The Desiderata". Just the first note of the lady singer singing gives me goosebumps. I think the fact that it has been rumored that authorship of this poem was unknown and that it was just found in St. Paul's Cathedral made it very popular. I have been so moved by the poem that I would make a
translation of it when I began blogging which my friend Batjay did a voice over and another friend, award winning blogger toni featured anew.

Next ones are kind of oxymorons,if there is such a thing, in music.

The first is Tom Clay's - "What the World Needs Now & Abraham, Martin and John". No, this is not really a song but a montage of songs and news items. It starts with Tom Clay asking his daughter about hatred, bigotry, prejudice, which the child, innocent as she is, answers "I do not know..." Then enters Burt Bacharach's "What the World Needs Now" amid sounds of soldiers preparing for Vietnam, a coverage of the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and his brother Bobby, MArtin Luther King and another Kennedy , tearfully giving a eulogy for his brother. The montage ends from where it started. HOw I wish I can share with you the MP3 my new found online friend Gilbert sent me.

The next one is Simon and Garfunke's "Silent NIght/7:00 o'clock new". This song starts softly with Silent NIght with an overdub of the 7:00 o'clock news. As the song gets louder, the news gets even louder and it suddenly hits the listener that the news. You can guess what the news is about.

The last one is not from the 70's. It came out during the Woodstock era so that would be about 1969. However, I first heard it during the 70's ergo, I'm including it to the list. I'm talking about Country Joe and the Fish's I-feel-like-I'm-fixin'-To-Die". This is a protest song, as was the whole rap Woodstock is all about, about the US sending its young men to Vietnam. In this song I saw how to make a protest without the flair of a hothead but as pompous just the same.

So, there. Hope these songs brought back memories to you, too.

My Daily Commute

This round at the Blogkadahan, we are posting pictures of streets where we live. Coming from different countries, you will find these posts from my friends very interesting. For my share, I am posting these pictures but am not telling the story here. You've got to go there to read it. My entry is scheduled to come out on Tuesday. In the meantime, read and see the other posts made by my friends. Happy viewing!

States bound

Oil on canvass 30" X 60"

"The Day Before"


Since my last painting of a town fiesta called Too Many Cooks", I have been getting commissions that feature town fiestas. My idea of fun during fiestas is actually not the feast day itself but the preparations that go with it, especially the eve of the actual feast. Just finished this one which I entitled "The Day Before". This is another commissioned work and is bound for the States soon. Hopefully it dries up fast and heals well before it is transported. Hope you like it.

A dream comes true

On Sept. 16, I blogged about a boy's little request to meet up with his idol, wrestler Batista. Pyro is a 3 year old boy who suffers from cancer. Like any other young boy, he watches wrestling and is wowed by big, bulky men. And he happens to like Batista very much. When news spread that Batista will be in town, Jojo, Mec's husband had the idea of a meeting with Batista. Thus, a series of emails passed here and there, blogger friends posting the idea on their sites hoping that somehow, the handlers of Batista would come to know of this little boy's wish.

It was a dream come true, a prayer answered for my friend Mec, Pyro's aunt, when finally, the handlers of Batista contacted her to tell her that Pyro can meet Batista in person. It was like David and Goliath sans the hostilities. Batista may seem like Goliath to us for we see him throw big men, punch heavy blows, kick like a mad man isnide the ring but in reality he, too, seems like a guy with a soft heart. You can watch the meeting here

I received an email which I'd like to share and it goes like this:

All,

Mec and I extend our gratitude, prayers and thanks to all those that helped in one way or the other to making this wish come true. I do hope that all of us would get to relate to the love and kindness that transpired to making this dream a reality. How I wish I could put into words the hapiness that is reflected in the boy's eyes after the meet and greet and after watching the wresting match live in Araneta.

We have asked so much already but forgive us if we ask for your continuous prayers for Pyro's recovery. And if you can resend this email to those that you initially sent the original email, we would be very greatful. AGAIN THANK YOU!!!


Best Regards,

Jojo Arevalo

If you would like to know about Pyro's latest condition, please read Mec's blog

A little boy's request

We get lonely when a loved one has fallen ill with a deadly disease. Our hearts bleed even more when the loved one is a child, just beginning to know the world in which he lives in. This is the sad predicament of Pyro's parents and relatives who have to suffer with this 3 year old, the ordeal of battling cancer and the emotional and financial strains associated with the disease. Pyro is the 3 year old nephew of blogger friend, mec who has created a separate blog for her cancer-stricken nephew here. Pyro could have been playing with his relatives and friends today but because of the disease, has to stay in the hospital for chemo treatment instead. This had been ongoing for months now. The little boy can only stand so much.

Logically, a very frail boy would find heroes in strong, well-built, healthy young men. And who else can fit the category better than wrestler Batista. Realizing that the legendary wrestler is in town, little Pyro always talked about wanting to meet him in person. And this brought a glimmer of hope to his family as this would be one good reason for him to find meaning in life and continue fighting the big C. However, Pyro is so frail and too small to even go out of the hospital to see his idol. Thus began the family's crusade to find the handlers of the famous wrestler through email and other means to request for Batista to visit the boy. To help, the famous cat blogger Cath, had the idea of asking our friends to blog about it to somehow extend the reach hoping that it would melt Batista's heart and grant a very sick child's wish.

So, if you, by any chance, has a way of contacting Batista, please let me know or better yet, I will give you my friend's contact number. Thank you in advance.

It is now a book!

Book cover 


My favorite blog, Kwentong Tambay, is now in solid form. Yes, it is now a book! Its owner, or should I say, its author, ( a guy known to the blogosphere as Batjay) is a good friend of mine who is actually behind the creation of this blog. He was the one who told me to create a blog about teaching (although this one metamorphosed into something else, I think). Just goes to show that this guy's full of ideas. He also helped me find my way through bloglandia as I was always lost. He patiently answered my queries about codes and everything until I could be left on my own.

The book has an introduction by no less than bigtime writers like MLQIII and Sassy Lawyer. I assure you that this will be a very pleasurable read as the man is wit, humor, and passion combined. Filipinos can easily identify themselves with the experiences found in the book. After all, Kwentong Tambay as a blog would not have been one of the best blogs there is for nothing.

Sorry I couldn't write about it earlier as my friend is making the book a surprise to his lovely wife Jet with this. Hopefully the book will be on sale at the local bookstores soon. When that happens, go get your copies immediately!

I did it again!

One of my works acquired a home again in Our Own Voice, an online mag maintained by Filipino expats in the States whose mission is to provide a home space for the creative expressions of Filipinos in the diaspora. A month ago, the new associate editor, Aileen Ibardaloza, got to read two poems I posted in my poetry blog and contacted me to tell me that they are interested in publishing these poems. My poem is a response I made to another poem written by my friend Toni, a co-berks member writing for blogkadahan where both poems were born. You'll find these poems here. Please do visit the site for it is a wonderful ezine with great poems, stories and essays.

This is my second poem to be published by this ezine and I am still as excited as before. The first one can be viewed here. Thank you Aileen for continued visit in my poetry blog. You don't know how much I appreciate it. Thank you Toni for sparking the idea in me to write that poem.

Let the pictures do the talking

Once again, miss anonymous, this time with her hubby, took me to a wonderful vacation spot up in the mountains called Whistler, a ski resort during winter that extends until spring. A two-hour drive from West Vancouver, there are a lot of good views to see along the way. We first stopped at the famous Shannon Falls.

Shannon Falls entrance 


Shannon Falls 


Had a hard time finding a parking space. Anyway, here's a view of the parking lot.

View from Whistler Parking lot 


The place is filled with people. I chanced upon a not so busy spots and clicked away. Whistler will be the venue for the next Winter Olympics. This early, plans are underway to make the event a success. We were greeted by a young woman into the Olympic Center.

Do all paths lead to the mountains? 


Whistler Center 

Information Center for the 2010 Winter Olympics 


The two-hour drive is not bad considering the beautiful snow-capped mountains viewed from afar and the lushness of those nearby.

Anonymous' hubby discovering that a river runs through it.  


We passed by several ports along the way. There were people in their scuba diving gears getting ready for the big swim. Didn't find it appropriate to catch them on film, though.

Port 

A tour around North Vancouver!

I was picked-up by a very good Filipino friend today who toured me around North Vancouver. There was a drizzle when we left Richmond and to her dismay, it became a shower after we took a sumptuous Filipino lunch in NOrth Vancouver. We headed for the Sea Bus which took us to Canada Place Convention Center. I assured her that I am having a good time and that no rain can dampen my spirits. At any rate, the shower stopped just as we were about to disembark the boat.

A Portion of Canada Place Convention Center


After staying awhile at the Convention Center, we went back to North Van and headed for Capilano Suspension Bridge a rain forest that was connected to the main road by a long suspension bridge. It was a fun walk on the bridge as it kept on swinging that you would still have a feel of your trembling knees after several seconds.

Inside the rain forest, a network of smaller suspension bridges connected cedar trees just right below the canopy. A very thrilling and informative tour, the visitors to the park were given a 20% discount because it had been raining earlier. Neat deal, eh?


Entrance to Capilano Suspension Bridge


Stop swinging the bridge please, you guys!


Then, we went to the salmon hatchery hoping that we can see salmon going back to the lake they were born before heading to the ocean to spawn. However, she knew this was not the right season but we went anyway hoping she can be wrong and just so I would have a picture of what it could be like when the salmon came.


Look, this ain't salmon season yet!


No salmon? No bears... Wait! What is this?




What? No people, too?


At around 5:00, we picked-up her beautiful daughter to join us for dinner at Earls, just about a few miles before the Lion's Bridge going back to Richmond. The restaurant was impressive and classy. The first thing I noticed was that the waitresses were all breathtakingly beautiful and sexy. I commented to my friend that the restaurant should have a policy of hirng only young, pretty and sexy men and women. My dinner of Cajun chicken and pork ribs with salad and baked potatoes was just divine. No shyness with the flavors there, for sure. We took some pictures then headed back for home.

Did I mention I enjoyed the day? Well, I most certainly did! My heartfelt gratitude to my friends who will remain anonymous forever.

Well, it's time they moved in together and raise a family of their own . . . him and her.

Tomorrow will be exactly a year ago when I attended a very important EB in the blogging world. This is the first time members of pinoyblog assembled to celebrate Christmas and do away with the anonymity of some of the bloggers. It was a very significant for me because I am a very visual person and I have to put a face on somebody I communicate with.

Anyway, I was in for a big treat because one of these bloggers, Mec came with her boyfriend, Jojo, who happens to be one of my students since he was in Grade 5 till Grade 7. Yes, it was that long time ago! Most of the guys in that EB have not only been online friends eversince but became really close to me as we have formed a bonding through a common blog called blogkadahan as an offshoot of Doc Emer's emailing buddies, the berks! Since then, we have been in constant communication, which is practically everyday, turning gmail as a some sort of a venue for chatting. While Jojo is not a blogger, he has been present every meeting the blogkadahan friends had. That makes him an honorary member, I guess.

Last night, would have been the second EB for pinoyblog but unfortunately, I coulnd't attend it for it was last night that Jojo and Mec were joined by relatives and frieds as they tied the knot at St. Pancratius Church (Paco Park). Doc Emer and his soulmate, Jane, and me witnessed the whole event to represent the berks. There, I got to meet once more my former students who are now grown-ups and,I would assume, very successful. Also in attendance were fellow pinoy poet members Ergoe and boyfriend, Nanoy.

So, to Mr. and Mrs. Arevalo, congratulations and may you have a blissful marriage fifty years from now and beyond. Now, go forth and multiply>



the happy couple  



The newly wedded couple with me, Doc Emer's soulmate, Jane and the good doctor himself. 

first there were seven...

The latest addition in cyberlandia is a blog written by a zany group of Filipino bloggers from around the world. Having started out from the exchange of funny emails between Doc Emer, Sassy, Batjay,The Cat, Jet, me and the witty computer manipulations of computer wizard, Polo, Doc Emer got the idea of forming an email group called Bloggingberks on December 7, 2004.

From the initial seven members, the berks grew to its present number of thirty three who constantly exchange notes on various topics under the sun. As to be expected, what would come out from a group of bloggers but a concerted effort to create another blog that would showcase each and everyone's prowess at the written word. The fact that the members of the group are as diverse as anything that is from east to west and everything in between in terms of interests, the blog called blogkadahan: Rebels without because, is written by Filipinos of different ages(hence the diversity in time references), places (with members coming from Manila, US, Singapore, Belgium, Germany, England, New Zealand and Japan) and professions (a lawyer, engineer, housewife, teacher, etc...) making the blog interesting to all sex, age, shape and color.

Come and visit us by clicking the button below.

Opening a new blog

Batjay suggested via the email that I create a blog about teaching as there are not too many around. Hmmm, not a bad idea, so here goes.

It's now official. I am once again part of the administration. No, I'm not looking forward to it as I still enjoy being with the students. But the principal is my friend and he thinks he needs me to this post. So, what am I supposed to do, eh? So, the opening of this blog is just right. No position, new blog.

Although the position is still that of a Coordinator, a position which I had for sometime until I resigned, this time the job entails handling discipline problems. (I never thought I was disciplined. The principal has to do some heavy thinking, I guess)